NANNY’S JAMAICAN KITCHEN

taste Jamaica again, here in Minnesota. Showing up and showing out?

While throwing down, one entre at a time, to the exquist delight of patrons, Chef Okkoy embodies the energy of his restaurant’s namesake, Nanny, the Maroon revolutionary, who waged guerilla war against British colonizers. A cultural warrior and freedom fighter, Nanny unleased and amplified latent, often suppressed pride, resilience and resistance of subjugated Africans, transforming their daily lives to reflect their natural right to freedom and self-determination. They won. They created enclaves of independence in the mountains of Jamaica, from which they launched successful attacks against plantationists, liberating bondaged brethren.

Nanny’s Jamaican Kitchen’s logo features a rendering of Chef Okkoy and his mom, Joan,who he says is like a modern day Nanny of the Maroons, a liberator. And it is her spirit he channels into excellence of cuisine, excellence of service, and excellence of community engagement.

Last week, that showed up as a day of gratitude, serving free Easter meals to the community, a gesture of humble service, gratitude and duty to recognize and appreciate neighbors in need of liberation today.

You can check out Nanny’s Jamaican Kitchen live and direct, as Chef Okkoy would say, at 969 Rice Street. Call 612-688-1619 for information and ordering, and visit online at https://www. nannysjamaican.com/